E-scooter trial extended for another two years in Salford

The sight of e-scooters zipping around parts of Salford is set to continue for another two years after the council agreed to extend a trial scheme.

The green scooters are operated by Lime and have been in place in the city of Salford since October 2020.

Since then, nearly one million journeys have been made using them, with council officers labelling it "successful" trial so far.

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The scheme will be extended to May 2026 - but there were questions raised about safety at a council meeting on Monday, March 25.

Coun Barbara Bentham said there have been worries from fire and rescue services about the batteries used to power scooters.

Salford council officer Lee Evans said there haven't been any incidents involving batteries, which are removed by Lime when in need of recharging and have to be up to standard.

The trial scheme permits the scooters to be used anywhere in the city of Salford, but the town hall has limited their usage to an area between the University of Salford, Salford Quays and up to the boundary with Manchester city council, as well as parts of Pendleton to Salford Royal Hospital.

This was done as part of a phased rollout, and the council has the option of extending the area of use in future.

Lime is planning to introduce new e-scooters in Salford where riders can sit down, to "open up this mode of travel to more people."

It's thought most journeys taken using scooters are onward journeys, such as someone taking the bus most of the way before jumping on a scooter to reach their end destination.

The council first partnered with Lime Scooters in October 2020, part of a scheme set up by the Department of Transport